N.O.T.A. - s/t LP 1985

Hot Shit! You thought their past records were great, well here’s nineteen tracks that are rockin’, thrashin’, imaginative, and catchy. The slower songs have a catchy early ’77 Pop-Punk sound, and the thrash just rips. A good mix that shows that NOTA are expanding their boundaries and coming of age as a style to US Hardcore. (Ruth Schwartz, MRR #28 • September 1985) We're talking about N.O.T.A. (None Of The Above) from Tulsa/Oklahoma, a fantastic four piece that has changed its line-up over the years. On this brilliant slab the band consisted of Jeff (vocals/guitar), Russell (guitars), Bruce (bass), Bob (drums) and this is their first album on Rabid Cat Records with nineteen smasher, recorded 1979-1985, and all mercilessly fantastic. During their on-again-off-again existence they released three 7Inches and three full albums. They disbanded in 1987, but reformed in 1993 and finally broke up in 2000. Top record and I have to stop now because I must recovering from a crappy bike crash.

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CELA NR 3 - Per Tempus 1985-2020 [2021]

Seventeen melodic songs, very varied anniversary album with many new songs and a few old hits in alternative versions by this Polish combo from Grudziądz, inspired by such legendary bands as Ramones, Sham 69 or Buzzcocks. Orginally formed 1985 as Zanik Pamięci (Memory Loss). In 1986, in the train, which the band went to a concert in nearby Toruń, there were quarrels, which resulted in a forced stay in the Grudziądz detention facility. As if to commemorate that event, the group changed its name to Cela Nr 3. In 1987 they released their first Tape To My and that was it. It tooks more than ten years before the second tape, Kwiaty, and a live tape in 2000 were released. Finally, the first vinyl album Jedynka followed in 2001. The band's most recent sign of life is a live CD, Bulbojugend Live Series Vol.1, which was released in July 2023 on Bulbojugend Records. During more than thirty years of playing together six releases were brought among the people (some of them only on tapes). This particular platter features Gruby (vocals/guitar), Dee Dee (guitar/vocals), Anda (bass), Melody (drums) and it's an amazingly good one.

- Great Thx to Fredrik -

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REBEL CHRISTENING - Tribal Eye 12'' 1985

About the next combo are unfortunately less infos to find and we're talkin' about Rebel Christening from the U.K., and it's a shame because their only 12Inch on Clay Records isn't a bad one at all. Members, as far as I could find out, were Conrad (vccals), Mick (guitars), Steve (bass), Dave (drums) and their style is rooted in the so-called Goth-Rock drawer and the three songs impressively underline this with melodic and typically sluggish rhythms. Especially the opener takes a while before the actual song starts. I like long intros when it really kicks off afterwards. The voice is appropriate, almost plaintive and pessimistic but never embarrassing. I guess at a Black Friday evening, the boys will be in the DJ's repertoire, as long as they know them. Further releases, tapes, 7Inches, records, Compilations, etc... are not known to me. Anyway, this record is really cool and the four use their instruments perfect, impulsive and thunderous. 👍

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FRESH COLOR - s/t 12'' 1979

Fresh Color was a Swiss combo formed circa 1978 in Aarau by guitarist Gutze Gautschi. They started as a Punk band featuring Dieter Meier, however, Meier left after two 7Inche, Cry For Fame (released as 'Dieter Meier') and No Chance (released as 'Fresh Color'). Meier went on to form Yello. Fresh Color released further singles in Punk style. This five track 12Inch is the rare second record on Sticks-Records and starts very poppy and you think, "Oh No!, What A Shit!", but already with the next song the slab turns into a solid Punkrock pearl with female vocals and great tempo, not as aggressive as some other Swiss bands but very decent. Enough blog, in about two hours the ball will be rolling again.

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THE PAST - In The Future With The Past 1990

Short and painless, this is the sound of the first record by the Past after their long hiatus and it's an Explosion!, released via Birdnest Records and twelve smashers in less than twenty minutes have Linus (vocals/guitar), Pelle (bass/vocals), Roger (drums/vocals) smashed out at the Studio White Room on a cold grey November day. I guess, the songs turned out extremely awesome because there is a lot of darkness in Sweden at this time and I can well imagine how I would jump out of my skin with the gray haze and I have to admit I couldn't live there, too little sun. Well, maybe that wasn't the reason and I've never been to Köping, so it's purely fictional. Well, considering that the Past have released a total of four albums (last in 2021) there is little information about them, but that's okay. The music is decisive and with this album, which you aren't find on the crawling table for a special offer, the three created a solid little masterpiece. I know, you will love it!

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SPERMBIRDS - A Columbus Feeling 2010

Now to a band that I like to play again and again and I have to admit that I would have liked to posted their debut but I can't find the record anymore. I've looked everywhere but this fucker isn't there and I know I had the first two, what I found is a burned CD of the two albums but I'm not in the mood to rip it now. I postpone that to later and now the band's eighth album (Rookie Records), and this shine with unruly Hardcore/Punk, and since 1983 the German underground scene, and Lee lyrically expresses here again his strongest and best.

We're talkin' about the Spermbirds from Kaiserslautern and by members of the melodic combo Walter Elf (including Lee Hollis, an American G.I. stationed in Germany, as vocalist and Frank & Roger (guitars), Markus (bass), Beppo (drums), they created a fast Hardcore/Punk sound with excellent lyrics that gained popularity in Germany and beyond. Spermbirds’ most successful album was their 1986 debut, Something To Prove, which drew influence from many American bands. The cover features a picture of Cerebus the Aardvark created by Canadian comic book author Dave Sim. Sim made mention of the album in his widely column in Cerebus, saying that although the band had not obtained permission to use his artwork, he would not harass them with legal action. Spermbirds split up in 1990, but reformed later in 1993 releasing a number of albums and are still touring today.

A very good powerful start into the weekend is guaranteed and let's see what's going on tonight.

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ARNAKIA - Στο Στόμα Του Λύκου 1993

A beautiful day ends with the travel documents that arrived by post today, and I want to announce where we are going with the following slab and I found some infos for you: "This album is a landmark in the Greek underground scene. An unsurpassed and unique record that to this day when you listen to it you understand its value. The lyrics are mostly pessimistic and dark and show how much they were influenced by the Darkwave scene of the time. Aρνάκια (transliterated and commonly known as Arnakia) were a three piece that started 1984 in Athens. They played concerts in many well-known clubs and venues (such as Pegasus and Scarecrow). The also participated in protest concerts, and on the famous Anti-Death Recipe Compilation from 1986. As a three member band, Dimitris (vocals/bass), Charis (guitars), Antonis (drums), they release their first record titled In The Mouth Of The Wolf at the end of 1993 via Wipe Out Records. The album features eight melodic nuggets with strong lyrical content and a powerful Punkrock-influenced sound, characterized by dynamic guitars. In October 1996, and while recording their second, self-titled record, their drummer Antonis died due to a heart condition that he had from birth. They disbanded in 1999." Very catchy & pleasant music like a delicious drink, Cheers!

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X RAY SPEX - GermFree Adolescents 1978

A real classic is the debut by X Ray Spex with the unforgettable powerful voice of Poly Styrene, who sadly passed away in 2011 and this album features great songs about identity, feminism, and consumer society with fire and joy. Musically, the five keep the level constantly high, even with an instrument that is not typical for Punkrock, a saxophone, they manage to integrate this passable. A perfect review: "Perhaps the most utopian aspect of the U.K. Punk scene was that it offered creative, articulate young people the opportunity to express themselves, and to kick up an exuberantly noisy racket in the process. X-Ray Spex certainly came from this wing of the movement, the brainchild of two female schoolmates who re-christened themselves Poly Styrene and Lora Logic. X-Ray Spex was far from the only female-centered British punk act, but they were arguably the best, combining exuberant energy with a cohesive worldview courtesy of singer and songwriter Poly Styrene. As her nom de Punk hinted, Styrene was obsessed with the artificiality she saw permeating Britain's consumer society, linking synthetic goods with a sort of processed, manufactured humanity. Styrene's frantic claustrophobia permeates the record, as she rails in her distinctively quavering yowl against the alienation she feels preventing her from discovering her true self. Germfree Adolescents is tied together by Styrene's yearning to be free not only from demands for consumption, but from the insecurity corporate advertisers used to exploit their targets (especially in women) -- in other words, to enjoy being real, imperfect, non-sterile humans living in a real, imperfect, non-Day-Glo world. Fortunately, the record is just as effective musically as it is conceptually. It's full of kick-out-the-jams rockers, with a few up-tempo thrashers and surprisingly atmospheric pieces mixed in; the raw, wailing saxophone of Rudi Thomson (who replaced Lora Logic early on) gives the band its true sonic signature. The CD reissue of Germfree Adolescents appends both sides of the classic debut single "Oh Bondage Up Yours!," one of the most visceral moments in all of British Punk, which means everything you need is right here." (Steve Huey) Great stuff and still unique!

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V/A - 1984: The First Sonic World War 1984

This great Compilation is not really new in Blogland but this is my copy and all scans are within and I think, the 1984 serie by the French label New Wave Records has spawned a remarkable series of international combos over time that sooner or later made it to some notoriety. The first part consists mainly French sounds, but that changed with each additional one and bands from all over the world were asked to send their demos for the following volumes and exclusive, four comps in all, were created. Rare items these days I would say. A short review: "This French Sampler contains a wide variety of Punk styles: classical, garage, thrash, skunk (big in France), and drum-machine/synth Punk (which the French seem to have cornered the market on). Some choice thrash, and there’s lots of good stuff and a dozen more. Tres bien!" (Tim Yohannan, MRR #15 • July 1984) A little Oi! stuff is also there. I like the slab for its perfect mix of songs and the artwork is also excellent. Never boring and selectable at any time. It's getting warm today, so a little trip to the lake... music on.

1.Benefactor Of People - HUMAN BEING

2.Nucléaire Mon Ami - LES CADAVRES

3.New Clear War - ANGRY RATS

4.The Kind - ABJECT

5.Paul Tibbets - STAKHANOV SS

6.Mitterand - K.B.T.

7.Don't Be The First - SUB KIDS

8.Hazler Reir - LOS TOREROS

9.Schlag - HEIMAT

10.Just Wanna Be Myself - ELECTRONAZE

11.Alleluia - R.A.S.

12.Agenouillé Dans Les W.C. - COLLABOS

13.Les Poings Levés - L'INFANTERIE SAUVAGE

14.Hurt - HURT

15.Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien - PANIK

16.Les Dix Commandements - RICDU'S CHAOS

17.Svetlana - KREMLIN KONTINGENT

18.Psalm № Ⅱ - DEADLOCK

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COSMIC PSYCHOS - Blokes You Can Trust 1991

As I write this post I'm sitting here at the computer, drinking my third beer and listening to relaxed music that doesn't belong here, but I know this record by Australians Cosmic Psychos by heart, and you attentive followers know I dig these guys with their "arty kind of Punk noise" and for their third album, the band signed to Amphetamine Reptile Records for the American market. Unfortunately, they only gained limited recognition, but those who don't appreciate their music are just simply stupid morons in my eyes. Known for their droning, fuzzed-out bass and wah-wah guitar with repetitive lyrics, the Cosmic Psychos have a simple sound that works well in context and remained largely untouched since they formed in 1982. You will find excellent examples ☝ in the blog and I especially want to recommend the live slab to you: dynamic driving Punkrock like I love it which they continue with ten goodies on this album, no foot & ass stays still, I promise. The Cosmic Psychos are a fantastic combo, an essential part of the Melbourne scene and in general Punkrock music... believe me! And today soccer is finally starting again, life is superb (in some moments). ENJOY!!!!

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